Academics advocate for inclusive
anti-corruption campaign
anti-corruption campaign
 |
| Academics |
By Emmanuel
Ologun
Ologun
Abuja.
A discussion
forum on good governance which held at UniAbuja recently has frowned over what
it described as the one-sided implementation of the present administration’s
war against corruption and the exclusion from the campaign of several
abominable conducts which rank among corrupt practices.
forum on good governance which held at UniAbuja recently has frowned over what
it described as the one-sided implementation of the present administration’s
war against corruption and the exclusion from the campaign of several
abominable conducts which rank among corrupt practices.
Initiated by
the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of
Abuja, the forum brought together academic experts, civil society groups, the
media, students, government officials, political actors and diplomats, among
others, to critically review the nation’s electoral processes and governance
issues.
the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of
Abuja, the forum brought together academic experts, civil society groups, the
media, students, government officials, political actors and diplomats, among
others, to critically review the nation’s electoral processes and governance
issues.
Discussants
concluded that the nation’s anti-corruption war had not been making the
expected impact on society because of the selective approach in its
implementation and the absence of stiff punishment for such corrupt behaviour
like sexual harassment in offices and schools, apart from the misuse of public
office which leads to political corruption.
concluded that the nation’s anti-corruption war had not been making the
expected impact on society because of the selective approach in its
implementation and the absence of stiff punishment for such corrupt behaviour
like sexual harassment in offices and schools, apart from the misuse of public
office which leads to political corruption.
The panel
reviewed the “disconnected, nonchalant attitude” of the political class towards
politics, the people as well as elective offices and called for improved
transparency, responsiveness and accountability in the nation’s governance
system to make it more representative.
reviewed the “disconnected, nonchalant attitude” of the political class towards
politics, the people as well as elective offices and called for improved
transparency, responsiveness and accountability in the nation’s governance
system to make it more representative.
Lead
discussant, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, who is the executive director of Peering
Advocacy and Advancement in Africa, regretted that Nigerian voters have
cheapened themselves for politicians who are ever ready to take advantage of
willing voters.
discussant, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, who is the executive director of Peering
Advocacy and Advancement in Africa, regretted that Nigerian voters have
cheapened themselves for politicians who are ever ready to take advantage of
willing voters.
Nwagwu
argued that many people have made nonsense of their Permanent Voter Cards
(PVCs) by selling and exchanging the them for pittance thereby making it
impossible for the electorate to hold elected public officials accountable even
when there are glaring evidences of non-performance by politicians.
argued that many people have made nonsense of their Permanent Voter Cards
(PVCs) by selling and exchanging the them for pittance thereby making it
impossible for the electorate to hold elected public officials accountable even
when there are glaring evidences of non-performance by politicians.
Sponsors of
the public forum, Action Aid, represented by its country director, Mrs Ene
Ede in a brief remark, stated that the agency will support every viable
peaceful process aimed at galvanising the electorate for inclusive
participation in governance.
the public forum, Action Aid, represented by its country director, Mrs Ene
Ede in a brief remark, stated that the agency will support every viable
peaceful process aimed at galvanising the electorate for inclusive
participation in governance.
Ede harped
on the need for the implementation of stiffer penalties for sexual harassment,
and misuse of official positions. While
declaring that such practices were other forms of corruption, the director said
that Nigerians deserve a government that would be more accountable to the
people.
on the need for the implementation of stiffer penalties for sexual harassment,
and misuse of official positions. While
declaring that such practices were other forms of corruption, the director said
that Nigerians deserve a government that would be more accountable to the
people.
Dean, Faculty
of Social Sciences, University of Abuja, Professor Yusuf Alli Zoaka and HOD,
Political Sciences and International Relations, Professor James Nda Jacobs,
aligned themselves with the argument of the discussants for a thorough review
of the electoral and governance systems to make them more transparent and
accountable.
of Social Sciences, University of Abuja, Professor Yusuf Alli Zoaka and HOD,
Political Sciences and International Relations, Professor James Nda Jacobs,
aligned themselves with the argument of the discussants for a thorough review
of the electoral and governance systems to make them more transparent and
accountable.
Zoaka
faulted the Not-Too-Young-To-Run law
declaring that it cannot be implemented to benefit the youth. In order to
resolve the problem, he advocated that some quotas of political positions
should be reserved for youths and women to guarantee proportional participation
in politics and governance.
faulted the Not-Too-Young-To-Run law
declaring that it cannot be implemented to benefit the youth. In order to
resolve the problem, he advocated that some quotas of political positions
should be reserved for youths and women to guarantee proportional participation
in politics and governance.